Jefferson Tap

Perhaps it is this backbone that City of Chicago mayor Richard Daley recognized in Lightfoot earlier this year when he appointed her to work in the Office of Procurement soon after it came to light that certain companies that had been certified as Minority Business Enterprises or Women Business Enterprises were fronts, created in order to benefit from the city's "set aside" program.

Lightfoot's reputation for fairness and integrity began to be widely known during her tenure as Chief Administrator of the Office of Professional Standards for the Chicago Police Department. Lightfoot said the biggest challenge in this position was "walking a difficult line between maintaining the integrity of the department and handling complaints against it." One memorable incident occurred in April of 2003, when a van was stopped by police because of an outstanding warrant. The occupants initially refused to get out of the vehicle and the situation rapidly escalated as several squad cars and a large crowd gathered. The police eventually broke the windows of the van and sprayed pepper spray inside. When the driver exited the van the police pushed him to the ground to handcuff him, and even though he was not resisting, excessive force was used. [...] Ultimately, OPS recommended the lead officer be fired, and he ended up facing criminal charges.

So a lawyer involved in providing political cover for the mayor after the mob connected Duff family was found to be posing as a "minority" firm (as covered by John Kass in numerous Tribune columns) and providing political cover for the mayor as the head of OPS while dishing out what we've heard described as blatantly uneven disciplinary findings is now defending an officer?

the other two should hire locke bowman and pincham. we know how they feel about the police dept.. how does phil cline sllep at night. this is a nothing case where no action was taken for months because none was warranted. seriously i ask scc and anyone else to weigh in here. if this doesn't tell everybody it's time to fight back against this type of treatment i don't know what is.

this is all politics. Daley talked to Devine and these poor guys get jammed. This should be an ANOV or misdemeanor not trumped up felony charges. Good Luck to the coppers and their families. Even when thye beat this they still have lost. Going to cost them a fortune for lawyers. Drink at home kids, much cheaper.

If this incident had been addressed firmly and quickly back in December we would not have three individuals whose immediate lives are ruined.5/16/2007 06:53:00 AM

Hey tool, their lives were ruined because they were stupid, arrogant drunks. They just had to beat up someone because he called one of them a pussy. Ohhhhhhhhh, big bad poleeeeeces. Fuck them. Why should someone else get blamed for their idiocy. They ruined their own lives. No one did it for them.

I'm getting a bit tired of Devine charging officers with Aggravated Battery for a fight. There is clearly a double standard for police. Next time you lock someone up for fighting on the street, demand that the Dicks seek Agg Batt on Public Way charges. When they get rejected, have the Dick seek an override. That will also be denied. At least you'll be making the ASAs and ADSs do some work and maybe the officers and the Dicks can get some OT at the city's expense. We can play the game too!!!

P.S. Why didn't the so-called "businessmen" get charged?!!! Let's see the fucking tape!!!

Hey SCC, you missed P.O. WEEMS case. The Judge MAY order that the CTA video of the shooting be shown if the city does not accept blame. Check out Monday's Suntimes. The article talks about how OPS recommended WEEMS be fired and the Superintendent only gave him 30 days on the day the video was released. Quotes fat boy saying that we should not play Monday night quaterback from our offices.

You mean with his ---3--- years on the job (on an Area gun team no less?) Mr Powers did not learn there are cameras in bars. Not that I advocate it but they are about to make an example out of a couple clout babies. Bad timing. Verdict 1 millllllion dollars!

You know I like to see a yuppie get his ass kicked as much as the next guy, but this incident has gotten out of control. This city will let you twist in the wind. So, as much fun as it is, stop kicking yuppie ass. Let's just hit on their bitches instead and let them see what a real man is.

Lessons to be learned:1. If you lock horns with them, have them locked up. Sign D/C complaints & GTFO/ASAP. If not, just GTFO/ASAP.2. Handle your job; no wave-offs.3. Notify the Watch Commander!4. Document it & save your copy!5. Expect no help from anyone! Realize that any you do get will evaporate in direct proportion to temperature increase. CYA!

Cline and Schmitz- 2 more phoneys that have again brought disgrace to the CPD rank and file by their elitist, "better than thou" conduct & attitudes, the "I got CLOUT ATTITUDE" we all know so well, and the CPD's constant covering up for their chosen Supervisors, while leaving lowly patrol officers hanging out to dry. How about the narco-Lt. who's own wife gave him a kidney for transplant a while ago, from her own body, so he could be alive and healthy, and that Lt. caught out of state with a company car and his Girl-friend, doing some hanky-panky. Another great stand-up CPD Supervisor, leader we should respect, yeah, RIGHT... More to come, maybe? If not, just another CPD folly, no big deal, typical...Do as I say, not as I do. Way to go with your great merit [clout] promotions Daley. But again, you have no integrity, so why would you expect it from anyone else? As long as everything benefits Daley and City Hall, why should it matter that the CPD is a laughing stock nationwide? And still , no Federal monitoring of exams by the Feds, and no contract in sight as usual for CPD members, who always have to wait while the City earns more interest on the bugeted money for additional cops and contract raises. What a fuc*in joke this place has become.

the other two should hire locke bowman and pincham. we know how they feel about the police dept.. how does phil cline sllep at night. this is a nothing case where no action was taken for months because none was warranted. seriously i ask scc and anyone else to weigh in here. if this doesn't tell everybody it's time to fight back against this type of treatment i don't know what is.

5/16/2007 08:39:00 AM

You sir must be one of the connected. They need to go to jail as I would.The media should stay on this case as the city is still attempting to cover up for Powers. His Daddy the Commander was the hit man for numerous exempts did their dirty work.

If this incident had been addressed firmly and quickly back in December we would not have three individuals whose immediate lives are ruined.5/16/2007 06:53:00 AM

Hey tool, their lives were ruined because they were stupid, arrogant drunks. They just had to beat up someone because he called one of m a pussy. Ohhhhhhhhh, big bad poleeeeeces. Fuck them. Why should someone else get blamed for their idiocy. They ruined their own lives. No one did it for them.

5/16/2007 10:54:00 AM

Great post. Fuck them the city has been trying to spin this for months. You people are sickening . Lame attempt at covering the lies.

I'm getting a bit tired of Devine charging officers with Aggravated Battery for a fight. There is clearly a double standard for police. Next time you lock someone up for fighting on the street, demand that the Dicks seek Agg Batt on Public Way charges. When they get rejected, have the Dick seek an override. That will also be denied. At least you'll be making the ASAs and ADSs do some work and maybe the officers and the Dicks can get some OT at the city's expense. We can play the game too!!!

P.S. Why didn't the so-called "businessmen" get charged?!!! Let's see the fucking tape!!!

Devine is doing this as he wants insurance for the kid. Another shinning star on this job.

You mean with his ---3--- years on the job (on an Area gun team no less?) Mr Powers did not learn there are cameras in bars. Not that I advocate it but they are about to make an example out of a couple clout babies. Bad timing.Verdict 1 millllllion dollars!

5/16/2007 03:31:00 PM

I think not the city has been trying to cover for them, he got lightfoot only because he is clouted daddy baby. She is part of the spin. wait and see.

You know I like to see a yuppie get his ass kicked as much as the next guy, but this incident has gotten out of control. This city will let you twist in the wind. So, as much fun as it is, stop kicking yuppie ass. Let's just hit on their bitches instead and let them see what a real man is.

5/16/2007 04:35:00 PM

You got it all wrong guy the city was trying to cover this up, then the Abbott thing happened. Think about it, this happened in Dec 2006

Seen these coppers on TV, they look in shape and are built. They must have really fucked these dudes up.

You start shit in a bar, pub, or other drinking establishment, you're fair game- unwritten law since Roman times. If this was a pharmacy, library, or church, then I would have shown some sympathy for these businessmen.

Bottom line-don't start shit in a bar-and if you get your ass kicked- too bad.

Hey tool, their lives were ruined because they were stupid, arrogant drunks. They just had to beat up someone because he called one of them a pussy. Ohhhhhhhhh, big bad poleeeeeces. Fuck them. Why should someone else get blamed for their idiocy. They ruined their own lives. No one did it for them.

5/16/2007 10:54:00 AM

Believe it or not,at one time EVERYONE who stepped into ANY bar in Chicago knew what could happen when you call some stranger a pussy.Unfortunately being a real man is out of style nowdays.And someting you obviously know nothing about.

I wished these guys would have left the scene before the Units arrived.

We all know it takes about three to five minutes from the time a call is made until a Unit responds to the bar scene!

I personally and usually take my time [more than 5 minutes from time of dispatch and no lights] responding to bar fights while working, because most bar fights are stupid drunks and a waste of paper and ink!

The fight should have been over in less time than that!

These coppers should have left the stupid, whiny, bloody yuppie asses on the ground and left the scene.

Then the responding Officers could have made a G.O. case report where Offender is Unknown description. I have plenty of G.O.'s like that already made out!

Then the case would eventually be suspended and forgotten.

The worse thing to do after a fight is stick around and beat your chest! I have scene plenty of idiots like that and they wound up in trouble!

GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!

Had these guys done so, it would not be this overblown and in fact a case of unknown offenders just like all of the other case reports I have written and these stupid liberal Yuppies would be just licking their sorry ass wounds!

You mean with his ---3--- years on the job (on an Area gun team no less?) Mr Powers did not learn there are cameras in bars. Not that I advocate it but they are about to make an example out of a couple clout babies. Bad timing.Verdict 1 millllllion dollars!

Understand something this is not the first time these A holes have done something like this, the other times Cline Covered for them along with IAD, However this time the media got wind of it. Keep in mind IAD is an arm of the dept they are told who to go after and who to leave alone and who to cover for.

Pat Needham is a very good lawyer. Had several cases with him when he was a States Attorney, and always found him to be competent and pro police. I don't know Lori Lightfoot's legal ability, but I do know that both are heavily connected. I think these guys are going to go through some changes for about a year and a half, and this will cost them some big money, but I will bet that they will either be found not guilty, or this will be reduced to a misdemeanor and they won't loose the job.

Devine is doing this as he wants insurance for the kid. Another shinning star on this job.

-----------------------------------Devine, has a second kid on the CPD, he works in Research and Development as a civilian. And guess what they do in R & D, yep, they write our policy and procedures (General Orders). He has been there several years. Looks just like the old man. Don't you think that Devine can also influence our procedures? CPD, has been taking care of Devine's kids for a long time. Look it up if you do not believe.

this is all politics. Daley talked to Devine and these poor guys get jammed. This should be an ANOV or misdemeanor not trumped up felony charges. Good Luck to the coppers and their families. Even when thye beat this they still have lost. Going to cost them a fortune for lawyers. Drink at home kids, much cheaper.

16/2007 10:42:00 AM

I see those of us without clout get fired yet the connected Mr powers is suspended with pay. How does that work guys?

Seen these coppers on TV, they look in shape and are built. They must have really fucked these dudes up.

You start shit in a bar, pub, or other drinking establishment, you're fair game- unwritten law since Roman times. If this was a pharmacy, library, or church, then I would have shown some sympathy for these businessmen.

Bottom line-don't start shit in a bar-and if you get your ass kicked- too bad.

Hey tool, their lives were ruined because they were stupid, arrogant drunks. They just had to beat up someone because he called one of them a pussy. Ohhhhhhhhh, big bad poleeeeeces. Fuck them. Why should someone else get blamed for their idiocy. They ruined their own lives. No one did it for them.

5/16/2007 10:54:00 AM

Believe it or not,at one time EVERYONE who stepped into ANY bar in Chicago knew what could happen when you call some stranger a pussy.Unfortunately being a real man is out of style nowdays.And someting you obviously know nothing about.

Powers is a great kid!! These coppers talk shit about him and want him to go down. My Lord the job is done.

Powers has juice, he'll be fine. More importantly he didn't do anything wrong!! But these coppers today!!

SCC you do a great job. However, some of these coppers being allowed to express their ignorant opinions...is a sin.

This is bull shit I'm sick and tired of taking the heat over these connected pussy boys (thats right I said it)the rest of us suffer because of these Pricks. Understand something Powers, father would have fucked over any PO not connected.

Pat Needham is a very good lawyer. Had several cases with him when he was a States Attorney, and always found him to be competent and pro police. I don't know Lori Lightfoot's legal ability, but I do know that both are heavily connected. I think these guys are going to go through some changes for about a year and a half, and this will cost them some big money, but I will bet that they will either be found not guilty, or this will be reduced to a misdemeanor and they won't loose the job.

Still no Jefferson Tap beating Video shown to the public. What are Cline, Daley, and Devine trying to hide from the public? Perhaps a supervisor caught on camera who got his promo from big donation to the Daley coffers, on the video looking bad. Just another incident of corruption , and the little guy players always get jammed first and worst, and money and corrupt politics buys out the connected. US Attorney should be investigating all these incidents, as Devine is in cahoots with City Hall, and is not known for being impartial, ie: Abatte; and the Jefferson Tap Incident investigation results.. Yes, Devine is corrupt too! Just like his City counterparts.

an outside agency, other than the corrupt CC States Attorneys Office, should investigate all these incidents, now and in the future. The Justice being disbursed is always in favor of the Clout-Heavy. thankfully the rest of the country isn't all like CrookCago and Crook County Smellinois.

Inquiring minds want to know? What a slap in the face insofar as the officers working the 12th dist, who had no part in this activity other then answering the radio. These officers were waved off by a white shirt who used his authority in order to cover up what had happened.Yet you tough Guys on this blog are crying for Officer Powers.Cry me a river for the poster boy (another Merit on the way) This dept is infested with ignorant suck ups that would do anything to circumvent the truth.

Devine is doing this as he wants insurance for the kid. Another shinning star on this job.

-----------------------------------Devine, has a second kid on the CPD, he works in Research and Development as a civilian. And guess what they do in R & D, yep, they write our policy and procedures (General Orders). He has been there several years. Looks just like the old man. Don't you think that Devine can also influence our procedures? CPD, has been taking care of Devine's kids for a long time. Look it up if you do not believe.

5/17/2007 09:16:00 AM

HELLO MEDIA! How about this great story pick it up do something real, find out what this city is all about.

Believe it or not,at one time EVERYONE who stepped into ANY bar in Chicago knew what could happen when you call some stranger a pussy.Unfortunately being a real man is out of style nowdays.And someting you obviously know nothing about.

5/16/2007 09:21:00 PM

I know you, your the type to tell the old lady and kids war stories. If their true or not or maybe someone else's GET SOME SELF ESTEEM.

this is all politics. Daley talked to Devine and these poor guys get jammed. This should be an ANOV or misdemeanor not trumped up felony charges. Good Luck to the coppers and their families. Even when thye beat this they still have lost. Going to cost them a fortune for lawyers. Drink at home kids, much cheaper.

Would you sir think the same, if it were not the clouted Baby boys. I think not.

i agree tom needham is a good guy and very pro police, on top of being a unbelievable attorney. he has represented me on two different occasions, un related to policing- the real victims in this case made a very good decision in going with tom, and he will see to it that the real truth comes out in court- keep your heads up the truth will come out in court stay blue stat safe

Sgt P and GB are good guys and I do not believe they would be out "looking for a fight."

They possibly went overboard ... who knows. But when 99.99999999% of bar fights ....right or wrong .... provoked or unprovoked .... w/o Great Bodily Harm, are misdemeanors... then WTF?

You call up the state and ask for AGG BATT, your victim better be in the hospital overnight, or vic better have a broken limb ... anything less = misdemeanor.

We all know this. If the officers are wrong that's fine, we all fuck up. But a felony?

Sgt P should have filed a police report. We are required to as cops - we all know this too. He should have resolved it right there with the 12th Dist - that's the 1 -2 punch ... 2 mistakes ... the fight, then waiving away 12th Dist. They do a report they still might be found in the wrong, but you have to do the report if you are the victim as a cop. Who cares about a fight, big deal, we all fight, sometimes we fuck up. But do not put 12 in the trick bag - that's my only problem with this.

I hope it all works out for the P.O.'s I really do. Who cares if one cop is heavy? The Dept should have charged misdemeanors immeditiately because now that the heat is on it becomes a felony. So the Dept trying to take care of them fucked them up.

I drink in my back yard. Fuck this city, fuck the yuppies and gangbangers who drink in bars. I pay $15 for a case and don't have to talk to anyone. Fuck the ASA office ... fuck the city cowtowing to the media ... we cannot win as police officers unless we get killed or injured. That's what the public wants.

I still enjoy doing a good job out there. I still enjoy putting bad guys in jail. I enjoy the camaraderie so I guess we can only absorb what is happening and file it away ... what else can you really do. I refuse to be what the public wants me to be ... a misereable cop afraid to do his job, a cowtow to the African, Hispanic, an apologist. Fuck that. They want a police force without the "force." Well the law has always allowed force ... and the courts have backed it. Force is not discretionary ...it is our duty. Do your job confidently for we are doing God's work (sometimes) 5% of the time, the 95% is jumping through hoops and dodging bullets (figuritively).

Whatever ...good luck to these officers even if they were a little in the wrong ... this is still just a barfight.

Still no Jefferson Tap beating Video shown to the public. What are Cline, Daley, and Devine trying to hide from the public? Perhaps a supervisor caught on camera who got his promo from big donation to the Daley coffers, on the video looking bad. Just another incident of corruption , and the little guy players always get jammed first and worst, and money and corrupt politics buys out the connected. US Attorney should be investigating all these incidents, as Devine is in cahoots with City Hall, and is not known for being impartial, ie: Abatte; and the Jefferson Tap Incident investigation results.. Yes, Devine is corrupt too! Just like his City counterparts.

I agree the us attorney needs to look into this corruption or lack of it via the connected few.

Whatever ...good luck to these officers even if they were a little in the wrong ... this is still just a barfight.

5/17/2007 03:57:00 PM

You just don't get it. The gray matter in your coconut has taken over. The point is ANY blue shirt or any officer without clout would have been fired over this, yet because the connected are involved along with a white shirt, the city is playing cover up along with the other arm of the dept IAD.

Whatever ...good luck to these officers even if they were a little in the wrong ... this is still just a barfight.

5/17/2007 03:57:00 PM

You just don't get it. The gray matter in your coconut has taken over. The point is ANY blue shirt or any officer without clout would have been fired over this, yet because the connected are involved along with a white shirt, the city is playing cover up along with the other arm of the dept IAD.

5/17/2007 06:20:00 PM

-------------

No, I "get it." I'm just not so sure any copper would be fired over a barfight w/ no GBH - clout-heavy or not. I am not as convinced as you are that a cop gets fired for a simple battery. I know it has been trumped up to a felony but that's only because of all the media heat.

I wasn't at the bar. I don't know what happened. I suspect that even some of the people involved and charged may not know completely what happened.

The civilians beaten and witnesses may not know what happened.

I do know that the cops involved had no legitimate excuse for beating those guys. I don't care if they were "yuppies". I don't care if one of the "yuppies" called Powers a pussy and told him he had anal sex with his dog......old yeller.

Many years ago, 1991, I walked into Dugan's on Halsted with a sweatshirt on that one of the off duty commandoes sitting at the bar took offense too. He proceeded to call me a pussy and question my manhood. I walked away.

Later, Officer Asswipe, decided to walk over and heckle me. At the time I had just left the Army but was still on active duty as I was running out my terminal leave.

Being a drunk with an IQ somewhere around room temperature he thought my sweatshirt was anti Gulf War 1. It was actually in memory of two guys I knew who got killed in a traffic accident over there.

I took out my lovely green military ID, with a rank on it that asswipe will never be called, and asked asswipe to leave me alone.

Asswipe decided that I was being disrespectful to someone of his age and weight, about 48 and 280 of pure bred south side Irish lard, and came at me. Luckily for him and possibly me one of the female Cook County probation officers who knew me and hung out at the place had gotten some other off duty guys and they took asswipe out of the bar.

Weeks later I went back into Dugan's and asswipe was still there looking for a fight. Although, he apparently had no idea who I was as he said nothing to me.

I don't know what happened at the Jefferson Tap. I do know there is no justification for the beatings that apparently took place.

Some good cops are going to lose their careers and pensions over this. Some bad ones may too.

There is a moral somewhere in this story. Don't be an asswipe. Don't let an asswipe take you down. Try not to be an asswipe. If you are being an asswipe hope that some of your comrades are there to help stop your asswipeness from taking you all down. If you are an asswipe get some alcohol or psychological counseling.

Stay out of bars. Leave when things turn ugly. If you're an ugly drunk, then don't drink. Get professional help, if you need it. No shame in getting help...only shame is in allowing the problem to swallow you whole. Save your own job. Save your pension. PROTECT YOUR FAMILY. Treat every situation as if it is being captured on video, because more than likely, it is. Be professional in dealing with the public. When things get violent, remember, no truer words were ever spoken: strike hard, strike fast!" It's best to lock up anyone you have to get physical with, even if they apologize. They get a chance to do it all again in court, and you've protected yourself from situations we're seeing on TV and reading about here all the time.

If I were in trouble, I could see myself scraping some serious money together for Lightfoot's services.But no way in hell would I ever shell out for that loud mouthed, blustering idiot Pincham. A disgrace on the bench, which haswhittled down to his poor performing worthless lawyer of a son (evicted for non payment of rent of his office a few years ago), proving once again that the fruit never falls far from the tree.

The only problem with yout post is the repedative use of "beating". This is the word used by the press and the "victims'" attourney. It is good to hear that you were able to walk away from that fight in Duggan's, but if you let the altercation become physical it would have been a fight and not a "beating". We have all seen murders swept under the carpet under the guise of "mutual combatants". This should have been no different. Even as the invesigation began,(days after the fight occured) the so called victims refused to cooperated with; IAD, OPS and violent crime detectives several times. The states attourney had the case twice before (felony review and public curruption) and couldn't bring charges, although they had the video. (They took the spineless way out using a grand jury.)The publicity of the Abbate video "encouraged" the "victims" to come forward. I KNOW that if/when the tape is made public you won't see P.O.s behaving as saints, but you will see that the victims have alot of explaining to do themselves.

Most importantly, I doubt that the video will be able to show everthing that occured that evening, but is it too much to ask that we give our fellow officers the bennifit of the doubt. We blame the press, the mayor and the bosses for so much of whats wrong with our job and the way that we are treated, but look how fast we are willing to believe half truths and turn on ourselves.

The only problem with yout post is the repedative use of "beating". This is the word used by the press and the "victims'" attourney. It is good to hear that you were able to walk away from that fight in Duggan's, but if you let the altercation become physical it would have been a fight and not a "beating". We have all seen murders swept under the carpet under the guise of "mutual combatants". This should have been no different. Even as the invesigation began,(days after the fight occured) the so called victims refused to cooperated with; IAD, OPS and violent crime detectives several times. The states attourney had the case twice before (felony review and public curruption) and couldn't bring charges, although they had the video. (They took the spineless way out using a grand jury.)The publicity of the Abbate video "encouraged" the "victims" to come forward. I KNOW that if/when the tape is made public you won't see P.O.s behaving as saints, but you will see that the victims have alot of explaining to do themselves.

Most importantly, I doubt that the video will be able to show everthing that occured that evening, but is it too much to ask that we give our fellow officers the bennifit of the doubt. We blame the

are you serious.Come on guy. how about the Officers who they jammed up in 12. I can tell you that I have been in a bar when these gang guys have come in acting tough war stories and on and on. Powers and company are mean spirited Weasels. I'm a realist and I know what happened in that bar along with the rest of you, yet because they are juiced you guys want to spin it. During my 25 years I have stopped numerous officers from fucking up their lives. Get your head out?

Even as the invesigation began,(days after the fight occured) the so called victims refused to cooperated with; IAD, OPS and violent crime detectives several times. The states attourney had the case twice before (felony review and public curruption) and couldn't bring charges, although they had the video. (They took the spineless way

Lets us get real would you cooperate with IAD OPS or Detectives, This is the city of corruption, we see it every day on this job. What the fuck! are you that dumb?

This is bull shit I'm sick and tired of taking the heat over these connected pussy boys (thats right I said it)the rest of us suffer because of these Pricks. Understand something Powers, father would have fucked over any PO not connected.

5/17/2007 11:21:00 AM

You're not taking any heat. You never did and you never will....that's the problem!!

Devine, has a second kid on the CPD, he works in Research and Development as a civilian. And guess what they do in R & D, yep, they write our policy and procedures (General Orders). He has been there several years. Looks just like the old man. Don't you think that Devine can also influence our procedures? CPD, has been taking care of Devine's kids for a long time. Look it up if you do not believe.__________________________________

If you really and sincerily think that people should get fired over a stupid bar fight, you are idiots. Even if mayor daley or a judge or any other professional got into a bar fight, drunk or not they would not get fired. Why are the police such a special target for everyone including fellow officers. This is just stupid, give the guys thirty days and leave it at that. even serial killers and rapists get a fair trial before getting convicted. Such harshness towards these guys is unreal and disgusting. I am ashamed to call u people, fellow human beings.

If you really and sincerily think that people should get fired over a stupid bar fight, you are idiots. Even if mayor daley or a judge or any other professional got into a bar fight, drunk or not they would not get fired. Why are the police such a special target for everyone including fellow officers. This is just stupid, give the guys thirty days and leave it at that. even ial killers and rapists get a fair trial before getting convicted. Such harshness towards these guys is unreal and disgusting. I am ashamed to call u people, fellow human beings.

You sir must be one of the connected. The point is that the only reason the city is attempting to spin this beating is because officer powers and white shirts are involved, this was a lot more then a simple fight the white shirts were covering up a crime and did th is crime happen in a Licensed bar?? Let us not forget the White shirt waves off the 12th dist officers.Your wrong a non connected officer would get fired for a LOT less. Don't use this blog for damage control we see through all you little pussy boys.

Cops are such a target because at least part of the fight is on tape. Also the Sergeant involved allegedly waved off the responding on duty cops.

I don't think any cop who gets involved in a bar fight should be automatically fired. All 6 of these guys may be good guys who got caught up in a bad situation because of emotion and alcohol. Or maybe 1 or two of them are real asswipes and need to go. I don't know. I do know that some of the victims had some serious injuries. I do know the department hasn't released the tape. Wonder why?

I do know that if 6 States Attorneys were caught on tape beating the hell outta some guys they would likely be fired. Same with firewhiners, Judges etc.

Last week a Dupage county prosecutor got herself killed because of her own drunken driving. Luckily, the others injured by her stupidity will recover.

This whole Jefferson Tap thing is a bad situation. As I stated before some good cops may lose their jobs and pensions over some real stupidity.

Try to avoid getting involved in that kind of stupidity and stop believing that just because you carry a badge and managed to get through the academy that makes you immune to punishment.

The worst thing that happens in this or probably any department is guys trying to "help" other cops by giving them a "break" on serious wrongdoing. If you pull a cop over for DUI arrest his ass. Let him take the suspension and the counseling. It may be the best thing that ever happened to him.

Maybe, and this is a huge friggin maybe, if someone had held that assmonkey Abbate responsible years ago he wouldn't be in the place he is now. On the other hand he is such a huge piece of excrement that maybe nothing would help him.

I am not "connected" and I still think this incident is out of hand. Its total bullshit. Il will towards your fellow man is evil, petty and pure hate. We all make mistakes none of us are perfect. Why must all of you judge so harshly and with such hate? I hope that all of you live perfect unblemished lives without incident and that by the grace of God every action that you take is well thought out and the right decision.I for one am not perfect and if one day I mess up and I will, I hope all of you perfect people will forgive me for being human and for not being as smart as you. Remember what goes around comes around we will all take our turn on the hot seat one day.

Powers was grieving for the loss of his father at the time it was said the allegations occurred, and that's all they are is allegations right now. To play judge and jury before a verdict is entered is wrong!

I know Paul Powers and knew his father for a very long time! To make political allegations that Paul is a clout baby and that Lightfoot is there just to cover for him and the white shirts is playing politics at the expense of another, so shut up and eat it until a trial takes place!

Though the purported victim didn't know Paul's psychological status at the time, nor did he know the circuumstances Paul was dealing with, truth be told....if Paul is guilty of any offense - it'll be dropped or plead out with special conditions that Paul will likely meet in a timely fashion without further incident.

I say Paul should be given a chance given the very heavy nature of what he was dealing with! If this offense did happen and if he is guilty, then he knows the responsibility is his. Don't use him as political bargaining chip.

I do agree with the P.O. who said to get the Dicks to seek Agg. Batt. on the public way and make the ASA and ADS do some work for once in their lives! We have Aggravated Battery charges, felony sex crimes charges, Armed Robbery charges, and all sorts of other buullshit going to misdemeanor court rooms instead of being approved as the felonies they are!

This is bull shit I'm sick and tired of taking the heat over these connected pussy boys (thats right I said it)the rest of us suffer because of these Pricks. Understand something Powers, father would have fucked over any PO not connected.

5/17/2007 11:21:00 AM

Hey, ready my lips (actually, my typing): Eat it! Paul and his father are great people! I have known both of them for decades, and cried something terrible when Commander Powers passed away! Commander Powers raised his kids right, and helped many other youths even into their adult years....a father to the fatherless and a great one at that!

Paul, stand proud! Your dad was always proud of you, and those of us who know you haven't left your side! You're gonna get back on the job and be twice what your dad was because he wanted that for you. Your dad was a victim of political Bullshit all the time on his climb up the ranks, but fought hard and ALWAYS won! We love you Paul!